Pneumatic vibrator.



No. 700,000. PATENTED MAY 1v, 1904.

H. TONJES. PNBUMATIG VIBRAToR.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902.

No MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 17, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY TONJES, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERIOANVIBRATOR COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

PNEUMATIC VIBRATOR SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. l760,088, datedMay 1'7, 1904.

Appiieation iiled August 4, 1902.

To oZZZ whom it may concern:

kBe it known that I, HENRY ToNJEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident o'l" Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Vibrators, ci' which the following is a specil tuated by the air-pressure and which Strikes fication.

This invention relates to pneumatic vibrators, having special reference to massage in- A struments.

The object of the invention is to'provide' an instrument by means of which yperfect vibration under perfect control can be obtained in a simple piece of apparatus noiseless in operation.

The invention in general consists `oi a cyl-` inder provided with means for connection with a source of compressed air and containing an automatically-reciprocating piston aca cushioned blow against the head of the cylinder at each end of its stroke to thereby jar or vibrate the structure. y Such vibrations may be used direct by application of the instrument against the affected parts or communicated through a cushion, roller, or other appliance or tool best adapted for the special treatment desired.

The invention will be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawl ings, 1n which- Figure l is a view ofV the complete outfit,

. including the operating' instrument and the 35- with the cylinder through the exible coupling c, but may have a rigid connection there- Serial No, 118,279. (No model.)

with byattaching the coupling parts l and@ directly together. The iiexible couplingwhen used prevents transmission of thefvibrations to the hand oi' the operator. i

The' cylinder a is closed at each end by heads a d, which are screw-threaded to the cylinder, as shown. One of `the heads contains a socket a2 for the insertionv of a tool or what Icall a vibratode (Z. The other head is plain, but may also have a socket for the reception of a vibratode, if desired. On the outside oi' the cylinder is an elongated enlargement c, arranged `parallel to the axis and having Tour ports 3, 4, 5, and 6 opening into the cylinder at the side and intercommunicating with each other through a passage 7. At an opposite point in the side of the cylinder are two ports 8 and 9, leading to the atmosphere for exhaust. Inside of the cylinder is a piston f, having three annular grooves f, f2, and f equally spaced and ends or heads f5 and f, formed by reducing the body to the depth of the grooves. p The body portions between the heads and "theneict adjacent grooves are provided with Apassages 10 l() and 11 l1, connecting thegroove with the space bcyondthe head. ".lhe passage through the handle communicates rwith the cylinder at the middle of its length. The piston is free to move from end to end of the cylinder either by power, gravity, or inertia.

The operation is as follows: The air-pressure is turned on at the valve e on the tank or at the valve Z', or at both. Y Preferably these valves are turned on full, a suitable reducing-valve, as indicated at g, being used to regulate the pressure during operation. The instrument is then tilted to throw the piston to one end of the cylinder-say to the position shown in Fig. Q. Air then enters the groove f2 from the handle, since inthis position the port from the handle (shown at p) overlaps the groove. From groove f2 the pressure extends by ports 5, 7, and 6 to groovef, and finally by ports ll 1l to the space between the head ot' the cylinder and the end oi' the piston. The pressure in the grooves equalizes on the piston; but at the end it has an abutment against the cylinder-head, and the piston is forced to the o posite end of the cylinder, where the head 5strikes the cylinderhead. At the end of the stroke a portion of the spent pressure finds its escape to the atmosphe're through ports 11, groove f3, and exhaust=po`rt 8; At the same time the ports are given a new relation, such that pressure from the handle enters groove f2 again and reaches the space at the opposite end of the cylinder by ports 4, 7, and 3, groove f and ports 1() 10, whereuponV the piston is sent'in the opposite direction; but this time it fails to strike the cylinder-head, because the air entrapped in the space by the quick closing of the exhaust serves asa cushion and prevents actual contact of the piston against the cylinder. The impact, however, is sufHcient to 'jar the entire structure and produce the desired tempered stroke. -The partial exhaust again takes place through ports l0 10, `groove f', and exhaust-port 9, Vand at the next movement to the right the stroke is cushioned, as before described. These operations are now repeated as long as the pressure is admitted, and the force and rapidity of the jarring can be regulated perfectly by manipulating the valves. l

In utilizing this instrument either the vibratode or the main structure itself is applied to the part to be treated and either moved over said part or held stationary, as desired or required. The vibrations thus imparted to the aected parts have .the usual wellknown curative results, and with this instrument the results are markedly beneficial on account of the perfect regularity and rapidity -of the tempered vibrations.

I wish it to be understood that my invention extends to pneumatic instruments or tools of any character in which mechanical vibrations can be employed.

Having described my invention, I claimW 1. In a pneumatic massage instrument, the combination with a cylinder and its piston, of a tubular handle comprising a rigid grip, a flexible connection carried by said grip and engaging means upon the cylinder and the grip for retaining the same together, said handle and connection Vadapted to receive means for actuating the piston, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic massage instrument, the combination with a cylinder and its piston provided with a series of annular grooves, of -apertures formed upon the ends of the piston positively connecting the cylinder ends and an adjacent groove of the piston, a hollow flexible connection secured to the cylinder and a handle retained thereby, means passing through the handle and the connection for -actuating the piston, substantially as vdescribed.

3. In a pneumatic massage instrument, the

combination with a cylinder and its piston,

provided with a series of annular grooves, of means formed upon the piston ends for connecting the cylinder ends and an adjacent groove of the piston whereby said cylinder ends are alternatively connected with an exhaust-port, a tubular handle having a flexible connection and a rigid grip, a central bore throughout its length adapted to receivemeans for actuating the piston, substantially as described.

4. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a cylinder and its piston, of a cylindrical handle comprising a grip and a iiexible portion, said portion securing the grip to said cylinder and means for supplying pressure through said handle for actuating the piston, substantially as described.

5. In adevice ofthe character described, the combination with a cylinder and its piston, of a hollow handle secured to said cylinder comprising a grip, a flexible connection interposed between said grip and the cylinder, said connection provided with reinforcing means,

and Vmeans for connecting the said parts, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a cylinder and its piston, of a hollow cylindrical handle secured to said cylinder comprising a rigid grip, a flexible hollow portion having a spring retained therein, said porti-on interposed between the grip and cylinder, andsuitable means for assembling the parts and retaining them attached to said cylinder, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combinationwith a cylinder and a piston. of a tubular handle secured to said cylinder comprising a grip, a iiexible connection having a spiral spring retained within, said connection interposed between the grip and the cylinder, couplers for said grip and iexible connection whereby the parts are assembled and connected to said cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a cylinder and its piston, of a handle secured to said cylinder comprising a rigid cylindrical grip, an external screwthreaded coupler secured thereto, said coupler retaining a flexible reinforced hollow connection assembled therewith, an internal-screwthreaded coupler secured to the cylinder retaining the opposite end of the flexible connection in a fixed position relative thereto and providing a central bore for the reception of means for actuating the piston, substantially as described.

9. As anew article of manufacture, a vibrating hammer also adapted to strike a swinging blow, comprising in combination, a comparativel y long handle and a comparatively short head arranged transversely at vone end of the same, whereby the device may be used as an ordinary hammer, said head being substantially cylindrical in form, having itsends IOO IIO

com pletely closed,and having-in one end means for holding a tool, a piston in said head, coasting passages in the head and in the piston and means for supplying Compressed air to said passages to cause the piston to vibrate against the opposite closed ends of the head, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 31st day of July, A. D. 1902.

HENRY TONJES. Witnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, JOHN H. DALY. 

